Right angle flap slitter



Oct. 13, 1970 w. E. STANDLEY RIGHT ANGLE FLAP SPLITTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 15, 1967 Oct. 13, 1970 w. E. STANDLEY RIGHT ANGLE FLAP SPLITTER 5 Sheets-sheaf. 2

Filed Aug. 15, 1967 A r).\- :11: m MN QM! 2 IWIIWHII m mm h mmw m x A E: T A FFEIW w %n\ NQ Nm 7 v Q Oct. 13, 1970 w. E. STANDLEY RIGHT ANGLE FLAP SPLITTER 5 She -1-tsSheet 5 Filed Aug. 15, 1967 WNWN m HWWW www \NN \WMN QR RN WHHHT United States Patent 3,533,214 RIGHT ANGLE FLAP SLITTER Wendell E. Standley, Lake Forest, Ill., assignor to Johns- Nigrelli-Johns, Inc., Skokie, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 660,665 Int. Cl. B6511 43/52, 59/00, 61/06 US. Cl. 53-467 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The mechanism herein disclosed is employed to sever the connections between the edges of joined, downturned closure flaps held along the outer surfaces of the vertical walls of a paperboard case during progression of the case along a given path. The connecting strip between two flaps at one corner of the case is severed as the case is advanced. The case is then advanced at an angle to the original path of the case to move it past means for severing a connecting strip at the diagonally opposite corner from the first severed strip. The mechanism may include auxiliary means at either one or both severing stations to deflect outwardly the flap that is disposed lengthwise of the path of travel and hold such flap outwardly deflected until the case has advanced sufficiently to assure that the leading edge of the deflected flap has begun to pass along the outer side of the severing means.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement in the mechanism disclosed in copending application, Ser. No. 478,371, filed Aug. 9, 1965.

In certain case loading operations it is desirable to retain the top closure flaps close to the sides and ends of the paperboard cases instead of allowing them to extend outwardly as would be normally true if the flaps Were not so retained. One expedient that is employed is to make up the case blank so as to leave short, integral holding strips between the flaps at opposite corners of the case when the case has been set up in its expanded tubular form. These holding strips or connections join a side wall cover flap and an end wall cover flap at diagonally opposite corners of the case. In setting up this form of case the two pairs of joined flaps are first folded against their attached side and end walls while the case is in collapsed condition. The case is then expanded to its open, tubular form, and the opposite pairs of cover flaps, being connected at diagonally opposite corners, will be retained in close relation to their attached walls. The bottom closure flaps may be folded into bottom-closing position and secured in the usual way, thus preparing the case to receive its contents.

After the case is filled, the strips connecting the cover flaps are severed and the cover flaps are swung to closed position and secured in a usual manner.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide unitary mechanism for severing the connections between the downfolded cover flaps which mechanism is well adapted for easy adjustment to operate upon cases of varying Widths and lengths; to provide improved means for maintaining the advancing case in firm contact with lateral guide means with which the severing blade is aligned; to provide in connection with a guide means a movable cutting tool or blade which in one position forms, in effect, a portion of the guide and which may be shifted to a second position in which it serves to sever the flap-connecting strip as the case advances; and to provide supplemental means for causing outward deflection of an advancing down-folded flap to assure that it will move along the cutting tool on the side away from the adjacent case wall.

Additional and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a form of case upon which the mechanism is designed to operate;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view as the mechanism appears looking at the right-hand end of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary and partly schematic, side elevational view illustrating the case stop mechanism and vacuum cup operating mechanism at the first severing station;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detail view, in plan, showing the vacuum cup device for deflecting outwardly the unconnected end portion of the closure flap, such device being shown as it appears from line 6-6 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the construction shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the control means for the movable blade and vacuum cup device at the second severing station. f

The mechanism, as herein disclosed, is designed to be incorporated within usual production lines and includes a conveyor to advance cases that have already been loaded with goods so that the cases are ready to be treated by machines which secure the top closure flaps. The cases will have their closure flaps held in downwardly and outwardly folded positions. The flaps, in the present instance, are shown as held by short, integral connecting strips.

The loaded cases received by the present mechanism are advanced in spaced relation on a receiving conveyor which carries them past the first strip cutting or severing station and thence to the transfer point where the cases are stopped against guide means and where they come under the control of a second conveying means which advances them in another direction past the second severing station.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the cases, generally indicated at 1, are received on a conveying means, indicated as a whole at 2. The cases are moved past the first strip-severing station to the transfer point and are engaged by a second conveying means, indicated as a whole at 3, which advances the case past the second strip-severing station. The cases are then moved past flap folding means, indicated as a whole at 4, and thence to a suitable take-away conveyor not shown.

The case 1 may be in the form of a single-blank, reg ular slotted, paperboard container secured at the box factory in collapsed, tubular form. The case comprises four interconnected end and side walls 10, 11, 12 and 13. Cover flaps 14, 15, 16 and 17 are hinged respectively to walls 10, 11, 12 and 13. The cover flaps, as herein shown, are connected with integral sections between flaps 14 and 15, as indicated at 18, and between flaps 16 and 17, as indicated at 19. By first folding the aligned flaps 14 and 15 and the aligned flaps -16 and 17 against their attached walls before expanding the case, the case may then be expanded as shown and the connected fiaps will be retained in closed relation to their attached walls. The bottom flaps may then be secured and the case is then ready to receive its contents. It is to be noted that the free vertical edges of fiaps 15 and 16 will tend to flare slightly outward at one corner of the case and the free vertical edges of flaps 14 and 17 will flare outward at the opposite corner. The vertical extent of the flaps is such that their lower edges will terminate above the lower edges of their attached walls.

The filled cases may be suitably fed, by means not shown, in spaced relation on conveying means 2 which comprises a pair of sprocket chains 22, 22a provided with spaced lugs 23, 23 for propelling the cases. The chains 22, 22a pass over tail sprockets 25, 25a and head sprockets 26, 26a. The tail and head sprockets are arranged on tail and head shafts 27 and 28 journalled in side frame members 30 and 31.

The sprockets 25a and 26a are preferably arranged for sliding adjustment on their shafts to accommodate cases of varying sizes, as best shown in FIG. 1.

A strip-severing element, herein, shown as an upstanding, fixed blade 32, is secured on frame member 30 where it will be in the path of the connecting strips, such as connecting strip 18, as the case is advanced by the lugs 23. It is to be understood that the case, as herein disclosed, will travel with flaps 15 and 17 at the sides and with the respective flaps 16 and 14 leading and trailing.

A guide rail 33 is suitably secured on the frame 30 and in alignment with the blade 32. The guide rail 33 is arranged to receive contact by the side wall 11 of the case and the upper edge of the guide 33 is below the lower edge of the side flap 15 carried by wall 11. Thus the flap 15 in approaching the blade 32 will pass along outside the blade while wall 11 passes on the inside of the blade.

A second guide rail 34 is secured on frame member 30 in line with blade 32 and on the other side of the blade from guide 33. The vertical position of guide rail 34 may be varied, when desired, by the conventional adjustment means indicated.

Means are provided for holding sidewall 11 of the case firmly against the guides 33 and 34 as the case advances. This comprises a roller frame member 35, on which are mounted a number of narrow rollers 36, 36. The upstream end of the member 35 is pivotally held at 37 on the end of a slidably adjustable bar 38 movable in a channel guide element 39 and held in the desired position by screws 40, 40. By adjusting the bar 38 the upstream end of the roller frame member 35 may be adapted for cases of varying sizes. I

The downstream end of member 35 is arranged to be urged inwardly by spring means toward the side of advancing case. As indicated FIG. 1, a horizontal bar 42 is movably supported for in-and-out movement and is formed with a slot 43 into which a holding screw 44 is received. A rod 45 is slidably supported on the bar 42 within a guide element 46 fixed on the bar 42. A coil spring 47 surrounding rod 45 is arranged to hear at one end against the guide element 46 and at its other end against a collar 48 fixed on the rod 45. The outer end of rod 45 is pivotally connected at 49 to the roller frame 35. By this arrangement a suitable adjustment of the bar 42 will bring the downstream end of the member 35 into position so that its rollers, bearing yieldingly against the side wall 13 of the case, will cause the wall 11 of the case to engage firmly against the guides 33 and 34 as the case is advanced by the lugs 23 and as the connecting strip 18 is being severed by the blade 32.

A supplemental roller guide member is provided to receive contact by the upper edge of the side flap 15. See FIGS. 1 and 3, in which only the downstream end of this construction is shown. It is to be understood that the upstream end may be substantially identical. This roller guide member comprises a bar 52 supporting a series of rollers 53, 53. As its downstream end the bar 52 is secured to an adjustable upright bar 54 formed with a slot 55 into which is received a pair of securing screws 56, 56 by means of which the bar 54 may be secured at different elevations so that the rollers 53 may be brought to bear against the extreme upper edge portion of the downfolded flap 15. Thus, as the roller member 35 urges the advancing case against the guides 33 and 34, the upper rollers 53, 53 will receive some of the lateral pressure exerted upon the case, maintaining the wall of the case in accurate upright position. As the rollers 53, 53 engage only along the upper edge of the flap 15, the tendency of the lower free edge of the flap 15 to be swung inward is negligible.

The conveyor chains 22, 22a of conveyor 2 are driven from a shaft 57 suitably driven in turn by a motor, not shown. A sprocket 58 on shaft 57 drives a sprocket chain 459 which passes around a sprocket 60 fixed on the conveyor head shaft 28.

As herein shown, means are provided at the first strip severing station for stopping the case briefly and, while the case is at rest, the downwardly folded flap 15 is pulled or deflected outwardly and then held so deflected until after the case resumes its advance and has traveled a short distance. This is to assure that the flap 15 will pass successfully on the outside of the strip severing element.

The individual cases in normal practice are delivered onto the sprocket chains 22, 22a somewhat in advance of the push lugs 23 and, when the case is stopped, the chains will slip briefly below the case until the stop is removed and the push lugs have moved up into case propelling position.

The stop means, as herein disclosed, comprises a vertically movable element 61 located in the space between conveyor chains 22, 22a. The flap deflecting means, as herein shown, comprises a vacuum cup 62, located outside the case path a short distance ahead of the blade 32. The vacuum cup is controlled to grasp the flap and pull it outward while the stop 61 halts the case, and, after the stop is removed and the case advances a short distance, bringing the free end of the flap along and outside the blade, the cup is released from the flap.

The stop element 61 (see FIGS. 1 and 5) is preferably carried on the end of an arm 61a pivoted at 61b on a bracket located on a secondary frame member supported on the side frame members 30 and 31. The arm 61a is swingable in a vertical plane to move the stop 61 from operative to inoperative position. For this purpose a rotary cam 61c is fixed on a shaft 61d which is journaled on the same secondary frame member. The stop arm 61a has a cam follower 61e thereon which bears on the cam 610. This cam has a large diameter dwell surface, serving to hold the arm raised so the stop 61 will retain the case, and has a smaller diameter dwell surface to allow the arm to be lowered to release the case. The cam follower 61:: is yieldingly held against the cam by the action of a tension spring 61 bearing upward against an extension on the arm 61a.

The movement of stop 61 is timed with the travel of the push lugs and sprocket chains 22 and 22a so that the stop will hold the case until the push lugs move into close relation to the cast trailing wall whereupon the stop will be lowered to case-releasing position. For this purpose the cam shaft 61d has a suitable sprocket 61g thereon driven by a chain 61h, passing around a suitable sprocket 61k on the drive shaft 28 for the conveyor chains 22 and 22a.

The details of the construction for supporting and operating the vacuum cup 62 are best shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The cup 62 is held at the end of a relatively stiff coil spring 132 which s joined to a piston rod 133 operating within a cylinder 134. The cylinder 134 is secured to an end plate 135 of a rectangularly shaped bracket 136 the inner end of which is attached to the frame member 30 at a level below the vacuum cup. The cup is activated by means of a flexible conduit 137 through which the vacuum is controlled automatically by means of a suitable valve. The flow of pressure fluid to the cylinder is also controlled automatically in timed relation to the activation of the vacuum cup. Such control means is described below.

In normal operation the piston rod will remain in retracted position to hold the vacuum cup somewhat away from the path of the flap 15 so that the advancing edge of the flap will not strike the cup. This flap 15, under usual conditions, will have the lower part of its leading or unattached edge portion flared somewhat outward of the wall 11, due to the resiliency of the flap hinge. However, in some instances the flap may be disposed in relatively close relation to its attached side wall, and in this event the lower edge of the flap might pass along on the Wrong side of the blade 32 with the result that the connecting strip 18 would not be severed. Thus, in its inoperative position, the vacuum cup should be'maintained in a position clear of the leading edge of flap when flared outward a maximum distance.

As previously stated, under usual operation, each, case delivered onto the conveyor chains 22, 22a will be substantially adhead of its pair of push lugs 23. The case carried by the chains will move up against the stop 61 and will be halted for an interval with the chains slipping below the case until the stop is withdrawn.

Control means are provided for moving the vacuum cup inward against the flap 15, then activating the cup and thereafter retracting the cup to deflect flap 15 outward before the case is released for advancing movement. The retraction of the cup is timed to occur shortly before the push lugs 23 come into propelling engagement with the case. After the case has advanced a short distance, so that the leading edge of flap 15 has moved past the cutting edge of the blade 32, the control means acts to deactivate the cup, whereupon the supporting spring 132 will move the cup back to its normal, inactive position in substantial alignment with the piston rod 133 as shown in FIG. 6.

While the vacuum cup operation may be controlled in various specific manners it is considered satisfactory to operate the cup as schematically illustrated in FIG. 5. In this view there is indicated a cam shaft 140, which is suitably journalled on the machine frame. This shaft is preferably operated in synchronism with the conveyor chains 22, 22a and push lugs 23 by driving it by a sprocket chain 141 passing around a sprocket 141a on shaft 61d and around a sprocket 1411) on the shaft 140. Two suitably shaped cam elements 142 and 143 are mounted on the cam shaft 140 with provision for angular adjustment. Cam 142 is used to control the extension and retraction of the vacuum cup, and cam 143 controls the cup activation. The cylinder 134 for controlling the movement of the cup is supplied with pressure fluid from a feed line 145 which enters a valve means 146 by which the fluid may be directed to opposite ends of the cylinder through lines 147 and 148. The valve 146 is opened and closed in proper time sequence by means of a cam follower 149 bearing on the operating face of cam 142.

The flexible vacuum conduit 137 from the vacuum cup enters a valve means 151 which is connected in turn to a feed line 152. A cam follower 153 bearing on the cam 143 controls the valve 151 in proper time sequence to activate and deactivate the cup.

Reviewing the operation thus far, the case 1 is delivered in any desired manner onto thhe sprocket chains 22, 22a and in advance of the push lugs 23. The stop 61 will be in raised position as the arm 61a is kept raised by the cam follower 61a traveling on the large diameter portion of the cam 610. The cam followers 149 and 153 for the vacuum cup will then be in contact with the small diameter portions of cams 142 and 143 which will maintain the valves 146 and 151 inactive.

The advancing case is next halted by the stop 61 and held until the push lugs come within a small distance from the trailing end of the case. The cam 142 is adjusted to project the vacuum cup toward the flap 15 before the lugs contact the case. The cam 143 is adjusted to activate the cup and maintain it in engagement with the flap while valve 146 acts to retract the cup and pull the flap outward. At this point the cam 61C will have moved to bring the low diameter sector into engagement with the cam follower 61e which by action of spring 61] will lower the arm 61a and withdraw the stop. The push lugs 23 then contact the case and start its advance past the blade 32. After the case has advanced a short distance and the leading edge of flap 15 has moved beyond the cutting edge of the blade the vacuum cup cam 143 will have rotated sufiiciently to cause valve 151 to release the vacuum,

causing the cup to be disengaged from the flap. The spring 132 then returns the cup to normal position. Continued propulsion of the case brings the strip 18 into contact with the blade 32 to sever the strip. While the foregoing action is taking place another case may be delivered onto the conveyor chains 22, 22a.

If desired, an element 41 (see FIG. 3) may be employed to apply a moderate degree of friction to the case passing thereover. This friction element is in the form of a curved plate located alongside the stop arm 61a. After the stop 61 releases the case and the case is being advanced, the element 41 exerts enough friction upon the case to keep the trailing wall of the case firmly against the conveyor push lugs. A similar feature has been disclosed in application Ser. No. 478,371, referred to above.

After the flap connecting strip 18 has been severed, the case is delivered by the conveyor lugs 23 onto a series of driven rolls which advance the leading end of the case into position against a combined stop and guide element extending at an angle to the original direction of case travel. A second lug chain conveyor preferably timed with the first lug chain conveyor then propels the case past a second strip-severing station at which the connecting strip 19 is severed.

The driven roll section and the second lug chain conveyor are supported between frame members 64 and 65. Extending between members 64 and 65 is a base plate 66 at the opposite margins of which are arranged edgewise disposed plates 67 and 67a.

The rolls are in two groups. Rolls 68, 68 forming the primary group, are immediately adjacent the end of the lug chain conveyor 2; and the rolls 69, 69 in the secondary group are positioned beween the separated chains of the second lug chain conveyor. Each roll has a projecting spindle at each end supported in the respective plates 67 and 67a.

Belt means is provided to rotate rolls 68 and 69 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3. For this purpose an endless belt 70 passes over a plurality of rolls 71, 71 in close relation to adjacent pairs of rolls 68, and over rolls 72, 72 in close relation to rolls 69. The belt 70 is thus maintained in frictional contact With the lower peripheries of the upper rolls 68 and 69 and by driving the belt in a counterclockwise direction the rolls 68 and 69 are rotated clockwise. The belt, in the present instance, is driven from a pulley 73 fixed on the end of a short shaft projecting from a gear casing 74 into which the end of the motor driven shaft 57 is received. The lower or return run of the belt 70 extends from the outermost roll 69 in between the runs of the lug chain of the second conveyor, then over a supporting roll 75, and thence around pulley 73.

When a case has been discharged by conveyor 2 onto the rolls 68, 69, the rotation of the rolls propels the case until it comes into contact with a rail 76 which serves as a combined stop and guide means. This rail 76, together with an additional stop means, is supported on frame member 65.

An additional stop means is preferably employed which is arranged at a level above the rail 76. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, this stop means comprises a vertically adjustable, narrow bar or plate 77, secured at or near its ends to vertically disposed bars 78, 78, each formed with slots 79 into which are received the shanks of holding screws 80, 80 threaded into the frame member 65. One or more rollers, such as indicated at 81, are preferably mounted on the bar 77 to receive contact by the upper portion of the case and assure that the side of the case is maintained in a vertical position. The rail 76, as indicated, may be secured for a slight degree of vertical adjustment by means of securing screws 76a passing through the slots 79 of the vertical bars 78 and threaded into the rail 76.

The second lug chain conveyor comprises sprocket chains 82, 82 passing around sets of tail and head sprockets 83, 83a, and 84, 84a mounted respectively on tail and head shafts 85 and 86 which are journalled in the frame members 64 and 65. The sprockets 83a and 84a may be adjustably secured at different positions on the shafts 85 and 86 to accommodate varying sizes of cases. The chains 82, 82 support a plurality of lugs 87, 87 which are operated in timed relation to the lugs 23, 23 of the first lug chain conveyor.

It is to be noted that the case, when delivered onto the driven rolls, will be propelled thereby over against the stop and guide rail 76 and, after the case begins to be propelled by a lug 87 of the second lug chain conveyor, the action of the rolls tends to maintain the case firmly against the rail 76 and the upper roller 81. In the event that the operation is conducted at a relatively high speed, tending to cause the case to rebound from the guide rail 76, the action of the driven rolls will tend to stabilize the case quickly so it will advance smoothly along the guide rail.

The conveyor chains 82, 82 are driven by a sprocket chain 88 passing around a sprocket 88a on head shaft 86 and around a sprocket 88b on a shaft 89 projecting from gear casing 74.

In order to assure accurate and effective operation at the second strip-severing station, the severing means is preferably normally maintained in a lower or inoperative position until shortly before the connecting strip 19 reaches the severing point. Thus, if the case should rebound from the guide rail 76 and the same time be propelled forward by a lu-g 87 on chains 82, the likelihood of the outside surface of the flap 16 to engage the severing means and travel on the wrong side of such means will be avoided due to the delay in bringing the severing means to operative position.

In the present instance, the strip-severing means is in the form of a movable blade 90 disposed in general alignment with the stop and guide rail 76. In one position, the blade 90, in effect, forms an extension of the rail 76 and in a second position the blade acts to sever the connecting strip 19 as the strip is moved past the blade due to the propulsion of the case by a lug 87.

For the purpose of moving blade 90 into its severing position, the blade, as herein shown, is pivotally mounted at or near one end on the end of a rock shaft 91 passing through an aperture in a boss 94 which, in turn, is secured on the frame member 65. A rock lever 95, secured on the outer end of rock shaft 91, may be employed to swing the blade 90 between its two positions.

The rock lever 95 may be operated conveniently by a piston and cylinder means, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The cylinder 96 is rockably supported at its lower end on a pin 97 supported on the plate 84. The piston rod 98 is pivotally connected to the free end of the rock lever 95 by a yoke and pin means 99. Introduction of fluid pressure below the piston 100 will swing the blade to raised position and the reverse process will lower the blade.

As described hereinafter, control means is provided for automatically actuating the blade 90 in timed relation to the advance of the case to the second severing station so that the blade will remain in lowered position until a short time before the connecting strip reaches severing position.

Two sets of idle supporting rolls may be employed to support cases moving off the rolls 68 and 69. One set may comprise a plurality of rolls 103, 103 with spindles received within bearing openings in suitably supported plates 104, 104a; and the other set may comprise rolls 105, 105 supported by plates 106, 106a disposed in the space between the conveyor chains 82, 82.

Cases discharged by the lugs 87 will pass over a driven roller 107 to any suitable off-bearing conveyor, not shown. The roll 107 is supported on shaft 108 and may be driven by a sprocket chain 109 passing around a sprocket 110 on head shaft 86 and a sprocket 111 on shaft 108'.

An additional guide rail, shown at 112, is secured upon the frame member 65 in alignment with the blade and guide rail 76. Mounted upon guide rail 112 is a folder element 114 serving to swing end wall flap 16 first upwardly and then downwardly to closed position over the load contained Within the case. A movable guide rail section 115 and an attached folder element 116, adjustably supported by a flat, slotted bar 115a (similar to adjusting bar 38), are provided opposite the guide rail 112 and folder element 114. Folder element 116 serves to fold end flap 14 upward and then over and down to closed position, similar to the folding of flap 16.

Supplemental means is provided for urging advancing cases firmly against the guide rails 76 and 112. This comprises a guide element 117, having a free end bevelled at 117a, and disposed in position to be engaged by the outer face of end wall 10 at a level below the lower edge of end flap 14. Secured edgewise on element 117 is an upstanding, narrow rail or bar 118 having a short, laterally extending flange 119 on its lower edge pivotally connected to a flat bar 120 projecting over the rolls 103, 103. The rail 118 has an upwardly inclined edge 118a at its end adjacent the element 117 which is designed to enter between the case end wall 10 and the flap 14 to assure that the flap will travel outside the rail 118.

A plate 121 is secured upon the upper edge of frame member 64 for supporting the flat bar 120. Securing screws 122, 122 are received into the slot in bar 120 and threaded into plate 121 to hold the end portion of the bar in the desired adjusted position over the rolls 103. It is to be noted that the bar 120 is employed to adjust the swingable rail 118 so that its downstream end will be in alignment with the guide rail section 115.

A spring-loaded, endwise movable rod 124 is arranged to bear with its outer end upon the rear face of the guide element 117. This rod is slidable within an opening in upstanding bracket plate 125 attached to the plate 121. The in and out position of the rod 124 may be changed to conform with the adjustment of flat bar 120. For this purpose a ring 126 may be secured at various positions on the rod to bear on the rear face of the bracket plate 125. A compression coil spring 127 surrounds the rod 124 and bears at one end against the front face of bracket plate 125. At its other end the spring is confined by a ring 128 adapted to be secured at various positions upon the rod 124. By suitably changing the positions of the rings 126 and 128 the outer end of the rod 124 may be adjusted to the desired position to bear upon the guide element 117.

It is to be noted that the guide element 117 not only tends to urge the case toward the opposite rals 76 and 112 but also serves, as the corner of the case moves against the bevelled face 117a, to assure that the inclined edge 118a of the rail 118 will enter between the flap 14 and end wall 10. The flap 14 will thus ride successfully on the folder 116 to be folded into closed position.

The second strip severing station is preferably provided with a vacuum cup mechanism substantially the same as that employed at the first severing station to deflect flap 16 outward from its attached end wall 12 and assure that this flap will pass along the outer side of the blade. 90. The vacuum cup indicated at 231 (see FIGS. 1, 3 and 8) is held at the end of a relatively stiff coil spring 232 joined to a piston rod 233 operating within cylinder 234, all suitably supported on a bracket 236 similar to bracket 136 at the first severing station, such bracket being attached to frame member 65 to position the cup adjacent the rock shaft 91 for the blade 90.

Vacuum cup 231 is activated by a flexible conduit 237 through which the vacuum is controlled automatically by a suitable valve. The flow of pressure fluid to the cylinder 234 is also controlled automatically in timed relation to the activation of the vacuum cup. The cup operation is similar to the operation at the first severing station, except that no retractable stop is employed at the second severing station. The case is advanced to the second severing station on driven rolls 68, 69 and is halted by the combined stop and guide rail 76 which receives contact only by the lower portion of the end wall 12. As previously indicated, the rail 76 will not be engaged by the downfolded flap 16.

The piston rod supporting the cup will remain in retracted position until after the case contacts rail 76 and the cup will be extended toward flap 16 by the piston mechanism, then activated to grasp the flap and then retracted before the case trailing side is engaged by the push lugs 87 to advance the case past the blade '90. After the case, propelled by the push lugs, has advanced a short distance, so that the leading edge of flap 16 has started to move past the blade 90, the vacuum cup is released from the flap and is brought back to normal position due to the resilience of the spring 232.

After the flap 16 has been outwardly deflected or spread by the vacuum cup the blade 90 is raised to strip severing position.

For the purpose of controlling the vacuum cup and swingable blaed 90 in synchronism with the travel of push lugs 87 a cam shaft shown at 240 in FIG. 4 and indicated schematically in FIG. 8, is suitably journalled on the machine frame. This shaft is driven by means of a sprocket 241 thereon around which sprocket passes a sprocket chain 241a which passes in turn around a sprocket 241k on shaft 86 which drives the push lug conveyor chains 82. a

Three suitably shaped cam elements 242, 243 and 244 are mounted on the cam shaft 240 with provision for ready angular adjustment. These cams respectively are for the control of the extension and retraction of the vacuum cup; the activation of the cup; and the raising and lowering of the blade 90.

The cylinder 234 for retraction of the vacuum cup is supplied with pressure fluid through a feed line 245, entering a valve means 246, and thence through separate lines 247 and 248 to the opposite ends of the cylinder. The valve is opened and closed in the proper time sequence by means of a cam follower 249 bearing on the face of cam 242.

The flexible conduit 237 leading from the vacuum cup enters a valve means 251 which is connected to a feed line 252. A cam follower 253 bearing on cam 243 controls the valve means 251 in proper time sequence to activate the cup.

The cylinder 96 for the blade 90 is operated from a fiuid pressure feed line 255 which connects through a valve means 256 to a pair of lines 257 and 258 leading to the opposite ends of the cylinder. A cam follower 259 bearing on cam 244 controls the valve 256 in proper time sequence to swing the blade 90 up and down.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the mechanism herein disclosed provides effective strip severing means for severing the connecting strip between the edges of outwardly downfolded closure flaps of paperboard cases; and that such mechanism is well adapted to act upon cases of varying widths and lengths by employing adjustable means which serve to keep the case firmly against guide elements with which the strip severing means are aligned.

The provision of means for deflecting outwardly the leading free end portion of a downturned flap just before it begins to pass the severing device assures that the flap will pass along the outer side of the severing device so that the connecting strip will be successfully severed. The severing operations may be performed at relatively high speed due to the fact, that, after the case reaches the stop and guide rail 76, and its direction of movement is changed, the continuous action of the rolls 69 quickly stabilizes the case movement in the event it may tend to rebound upon engaging the rail 76.

The adjustable swingable rail 1 18' and the guide element 117 not only serve to keep the case firmly against the guide rails at each end of the blade 90, but also serve to assure that the flap 14 of the case will pass along outside the rail 118 so it will be successfully folded by the folder section 116.

It is to be understood that cases treated by the mech anism herein disclosed may be either square or of elongated rectangular shape. The mechanism may be adjusted so that a case can travel with its length extending transversely of the conveyor in the first section of the mechanism, and so that it will travel lengthwise in the second section. It is also to be understood that references to side walls and end walls are for simplicity of description and the term side walls in certain instances may be used to refer to the walls of the case that extend parallel to the direction of the case travel even though they may be the narrower walls of the case.

While the present description sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, numerous changes may be made in the mechanism as disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism for severing the holding means between the adjacent edges of the cover flaps of a resilient rectangular case on which the outwardly downturned cover flaps at opposite vertical corners of an expanded case are held along their meeting edges by short connecting strips so that the vertical connected edges of the cover flaps will be forced to remain in close relation to the attached respective case side and end walls and the opposite, unconnected vertical edges of the flaps will flare somewhat away from their respective attached walls, the combination of a connecting-strip severing-station,

conveying means for advancing a case to and beyond such station,

a first guide means disposed along one side of the conveying means and adapted to receive contact by a lateral wall of the case,

a second guide means disposed on the opposite side of the conveying means,

said second guide means comprising an elongated member arranged in convergent relation to the first guide means in the direction of case travel,

means for adjusting the upstream and downstream ends of the elongated member to positions at different distances from the case path to accommodate cases of varying dimensions,

strip severing means at the severing station disposed in close relation to the downstream end of the first guide means and in substantial alignment therewith,

and means for urging the downstream end of the elongated member against the adjacent lateral case wall to force the opposite wall firmly against the first guide means.

2. In a mechanism for severing the holding means between the adjacent edges of the cover flaps of a resilient rectangular case on which the outwardly downturned cover flaps at opposite vertical corners of an expanded case are held along their meeting edges by short connecting strips so that the vertical connected edges of the cover flaps will be forced to remain in close relation to the attached respective case side and end walls and the opposite unconnected vertical edges of the flaps will flare somewhat away from their respective attached walls, the combination of a connecting-strip severing-station,

conveying means for advancing a case to and beyond such station,

a first guide means disposed along one side of the conveying means and adapted to receive contact by a lateral wall of the case,

a second guide means disposed on the opposite side of the conveying means,

said second guide means comprising an elongated member extending along the path of case travel,

means for mounting the upstream and downstream ends 1 1 of the elongated member for adjustment in a direction transverse to the case travel to adapt the guide means to accommodate cases of varying dimensions, the upstream end portion of the elongated member being yieldably held against movement outwardly of the case path and having an angular edge surface to engage the case side wall below the lower edge of its attached flap, said angular surface converging toward the first guide means in the direction of case travel, the normal position of the angular surface being such that it may be engaged by the lower vertical corner portion of an advancing case and cause such end portion of the elongated member to bear yieldably upon the case side wall as .the case is advanced, whereby the case is urged against the first guide means,

and strip severing means at the severing station disposed in close relation to the first guide means comprising the severing element movable from a normally inoperative lowered position to a raised operative position.

3. In a mechanism for severing the holding means between the adjacent edges of the cover flaps of a resilient recangular case on which the outwardly downturned cover flaps at opposite vertical corners of an expanded case are held along their meeting edges by short connecting strips so that the vertical connected edges of the cover flaps will be forced to remain in close relation to the attached respective case side and end walls and the opposite unconnected vertical edges of the flaps will flare somewhat away from their respective attached walls, the combination of a connecting-strip severing-station,

conveying means for advancing a case to and beyond such station,

a first guide means disposed along one side of the conveying means and adapted to receive contact by a lateral wall of the case,

a second guide means disposed on the opposite side of the conveying means,

said second guide means comprising an elongated member extending along the path of case travel,

means for mounting the upstream and downstream ends of the elongated member for adjustment in a direction transverse to the case travel to adapt the guide means to accommodate cases of varying dimensions,

the upstream end portion of the elongated member being yieldably held against movement outwardly of the case path and having an angular edge surface to engage the case side wall below the lower edge of its attached flap, said angular surface converging toward the first guide means in the direction of case travel, the normal position of the angular surface being such that it may be engaged by the lower vertical corner portion of an advancing case and cause such end portion of the elongated member to bear yieldably upon the case side wall as the case is advanced, whereby the case is urged against the first guide means,

a flap-folding plow associated with the downstream end of the adjustable, elongated guide member, and

means for adjusting such folding plow inwardly and outwardly of the case path, said adjustable guide member including an upstanding, elongated, thin rail element extending along the case path and designed to be received between the adjacent case wall and its attached flap, the downstream end of the thin rail element being arranged for alignment with the upstream end of the flap-folding plow to assure accurate folding contact of the flap with said plow.

4. A mechanism for severing the holding means between the adjacent edges of the cover flaps of a resilient rectangular case on which the outwardly downturned cover flaps at opposite vertical corners of an expanded case are held along their meeting edges by short connecting strips so that the vertical connected edges of the cover flaps will be forced to remain in close relation to the attached respective case side and end walls and the opposite, unconnected vertical edges of the flaps will flare somewhat away from their respective attached walls, such mechanism comprising a connecting-strip severing station,

conveying means for advancing a case to and beyond said station,

guide means disposed along one side of the conveying means adapted to receive direct contact by a lateral wall of the case,

strip severing means at the severing station disposed in close relation to the guide means, said severing means comprising a severing element movable from a lower, inoperative position to a raised, operative position, and

means for normally maintaining said severing element in its lowered inoperative position during the advancement of the case toward the severing position and for raising the severing element to operative position and maintaining it in such operative position when the severing position is reached and durng the severing operation.

5. A mechanism as defined in claim 4 which includes means, timed with the advance of the case along the severing station, to raise the severing element to operative position.

6. A mechanism as defined in claim 4 in which the strip severing element comprises a blade, disposed in one position out of the path of the connecting strip and being movable into such path.

7. A mechanism for severing the holding means between the adjacent edges of the cover flaps of a resilient rectangular case on which the outwardly downturned cover flaps at opposite vertical corners of an expanded case are held along their meeting edges by short connecting strips so that the vertical connected edges of the cover flaps will be forced to remain in close relation to the attached respective case side and end walls and the opposite, unconnected vertical edges of the flaps will flare somewhat away from their respective attached walls, such mechanism comprismg a connecting-strip severing station,

conveying means for advancing a case to and beyond said station,

guide means disposed along one side of the conveying means adapted to receive direct contact by a lateral wall of the case, and

strip severing means at the severing station disposed in close relation to the guide means, said severing means comprising a severing element movable from a lower, inoperative position to a raised, operative position, the guide means being in the form of a rail comprising two aligned sections having their adjacent ends spaced apart, said severing element being located in the space between the ends of said sections.

8. A mechanism as defined in claim 6 in which the blade is pivotally mounted.

9. In a mechanism for severing the holding means between the adjacent edges of the cover flaps of a resilient rectangular case on which the outwardly downturned cover flaps at opposite vertical corners of an expanded case are held along their meeting edges by short connecting strips so that the vertical connected edges of the cover flaps will be forced to remain in close relation to the attached respective case side and end walls and the opposite, unconnected vertical edges of the flaps will flare somewhat away from their respective attached Walls, the combination of a connecting-strip severing-station,

conveying means for advancing a case past such station,

guide means located along one side of the conveying means to receive contact by a lateral Wall of the case in an area below the level of the lower edge of the downfolded cover flap attached to such wall, and means for engaging the unattached, vertical edge portion of the downfolded flap during the advance of the case to spread such unattached portion outwardly away from its supporting wall to facilitate severance of the connecting strip joining such flap to the adjacent downfolded flap.

10. A mechanism as defined in claim 9 in which the means for engaging the unattached edge portion of the downfolded flap comprises a vacuum cup,

means for mounting the vacuum cup for movement toward and away from the case flap and for limited movement along with the advancing case,

means for selectively moving the cup toward and away from the case flap and for activating and deactivating the cup, and means acting in timed relation to the travel of the case for controlling the movement of the cup against the downturned flap, activating the cup to grasp the flap, and thereafter moving the cup away from the case to spread the unattached portion of the flap away from the attached wall. 11. In a mechanism for severing the holding means between the adjacent edges of the cover flaps of a resilient rectangular case on which the outwardly downturned cover flaps at opposite vertical corners of an expanded case are held along their meeting edges by short connecting strips so that the vertical connected edges of the cover flaps will be forced to remain in close relation to the attached respective case side and end walls and the opposite, unconnected, vertical edges of the flaps will flare somewhat away from their respective attached walls, the combination of a connecting-strip severing-station, conveying means for advancing a case to and beyond said station, comprising a traveling member upon which a case may be supported and advanced, a push lug on said traveling member for positively propelling a case supported on said traveling member,

strip severing means at the severing station located in the path of the strip to be severed,

means at the severing station for spreading the unattached, vertical edge portion of the downfolded flap outwardly away from its attached wall to facilitate severance of the connecting strip joining such flap to the adjacent downfolded flap,

releasable stop means for halting a case advancing on the traveling member when the case is delivered to such member ahead of the push lug,

means for driving the conveying means,

a plurality of cooperating means timed with the conveying means to act as follows to actuate the flap spreading means to spread the flap before the push lug contacts the case and before release of the stop means,

to release the stop means after actuation of the flap spreading means and before the push lug starts to propel the case, and

to discontinue the spreading action of the flap spreading means after the push lug has propelled the case to a point where the leading edge portion of the flap has advanced alongside the severing means.

12. A mechanism as defined in claim 11 in which guide means is located along the conveying means to receive contact by a lateral wall of the case in an area below the lower edge of the downfolded cover flap attached to such wall to maintain the case in a fixed path, and in which the flap spreading means comprises a vacuum cup engageable with the leading free edge portion of the flap, such vacuum cup being mounted for movement outwardly of the case to spread the flap and for limited movement along with the case as the case advances.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,115,758 11/1914 Whitton 198--29 X 2,627,153 2/1953 Stencil 53124 X 3,373,543 3/1968 Nigrelli et a1. 53381 3,387,522 6/1968 Standley 5338l X TRAVIS S. MCG-EHEE, Primary Examiner N. ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 53--374 

